NFL: Hartman: If Vikings are sold, they could be moved

[cigaretteman]

The Vikings have several owners besides Chairman Zygi Wilf and President Mark Wilf, the most visible partners of the organization.
The silent stockholders are Leonard Wilf, Jeffrey Wilf, Reggie Fowler, Alan Landis and David Mandelbaum.
While Zygi and Mark Wilf are more directly involved in management of the team, the other partners are investors who I'm sure weren't happy when recently there was a call for an additional $20 million investment, with each partner's payment based on his percentage of ownership.
The call was made because the club hasn't shown any type of profit the past couple of years and operating capital was needed.
So believe me when I report that the investors other than Zygi and Mark aren't going to keep coming up with money if the club continues to make those calls. And those calls are going to continue if the Vikings don't get a new stadium, which would generate the money they need to operate and compete and not rank at the bottom of the NFL in revenue.
If this pattern continues, Mr. Speaker of the House Kurt Zellers -- who refuses to get behind the stadium bill in the Legislature -- the Vikings will be sold and the buyer will pay a big price if he can move the team to Los Angeles, which I'm sure will happen if the Wilfs sell the team.
Until recently, the Jacksonville Jaguars were considered the leading candidate to move to California. But when Wayne Weaver sold the team to Shahid Khan late last year, the conditions were that the sale wouldn't be made unless the buyer agreed not to move the team under any conditions. That eliminated Jacksonville as a team to move and made the Vikings more desirable if they don't get the stadium.

Hartman: If Vikings are sold, they could be moved | StarTribune.com

 

[VeloClone]

Pretty much anyone in the state of Minnesota who has been paying the slightest attention to the situation knows that the Vikings have a very real chance of moving if they don't get the stadium. Instead, the legislature would rather play chicken. If anyone doesn't know a legislative committee shot down the stadium bill last night. It isn't dead but it is a very real setback.

Once again, Sid puts out a column stating the obvious - stating the obvious for the last 60 years. About the only good that might come out of this is if anyone without a clue reads this and gets a clue. Unfortunately anyone who might go to the sports page and see Sid's column probably already knows more than Sid already.

 

[CTTB78]

I'm afraid the do-gooders in Minneapolis will get their way and the Vikings will end up in LA. Too bad. I hope they do not take the Vikings name with them.

 

[CLONECONES]

Would be sad to lose the Vikes in the north but I don't blame them for not wanting the ceiling to come crashing down on them during a game.

 

[cigaretteman]

A Minnesota House committee voted down the Vikings stadium bill Monday night, dealing a major blow to the team's decadelong effort to secure a taxpayer subsidy for a replacement to the Metrodome.
The House Government Operations Committee mustered only six votes for the stadium proposal, with nine members voting against it. The vote, which came just after 10 p.m. following a four-hour hearing on the bill, makes it extremely unlikely the bill could be revived in the remaining weeks of a legislative session expected to wrap up before the end of April.
"Somebody's going to have to pull a rabbit out of a hat for this thing to be alive at this point," said Rep. Morrie Lanning, the chief House sponsor of the $975 million stadium plan. A Senate version of the stadium bill has been stalled in that chamber for the last month.
Lester Bagley, the Vikings' point man on the stadium push at the Capitol, said afterward that the team was "extremely disappointed" at the outcome. "I guess I would ask the state, what else would you expect us to do? What else can we do?" he said.
Gov. Mark Dayton has been a committed and vocal supporter of the stadium proposal, repeatedly stressing that he believes failure to help the team build a new stadium could result in Minnesota losing the Vikings to another city.
A spokeswoman said Dayton would not have an immediate comment on the committee vote. In addition to tying the team's future to Minnesota, Dayton has been touting the stadium proposal as a means of creating thousands of construction jobs.
The Democratic governor was scheduled to meet Tuesday morning with Republican legislative leaders to talk about the waning days of the session, and Monday night's developments are likely to be a major part of the discussion.
Bagley said the team would continue to push the proposal as long as the Legislature remains in session. "But this is extremely disappointing, and it sends a strong message to the Vikings and the NFL about the situation," he said. He would not say whether the committee vote made the team's future in Minnesota any less secure.
The proposal that fell in the House committee would have split the tab three ways for a stadium proposed to be built at the current Metrodome site in downtown Minneapolis: $398 million from the state from taxes on expanded gambling, $150 million from the city of Minneapolis from existing sales taxes and $427 million from the Vikings with assistance likely from the NFL.
Prior to the vote, Vikings officials faced tough questioning from several committee members who said they weren't convinced the proposal is a good deal for taxpayers.

House committee rejects Minnesota Vikings stadium proposal - NFL - SI.com

 

[colbycheese]

I'm a Vikings fan, but I'm a huge college football fan and could really care less about the NFL outside of Minnesota and watching the Super Bowl game. If the Vikings are moved, there's a 99% chance I'll stop being a fan of the NFL all together.

 

[Bobber]

These Stadiums can turn into quite the racket. I just rented a car down in Phoenix and was suprised to find a $6.41 stadium "surcharge" added to the bill. I'm paying for a stadium that I've never been to.

 

[Mr Janny]

Would be sad to lose the Vikes in the north but I don't blame them for not wanting the ceiling to come crashing down on them during a game.

you jest, but that's damn near the reality of the situation. There's a whole lot of talk and fuss being made about how the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a stadium. And while that's a correct argument, it really has no relevance. Because the reality of the situation is that if the taxpayers of Minnesota don't foot the bill, Vikings ownership will likely just take the team somewhere else. That's what it boils down to. Either pay for it or lose the team. It doesn't make the situation fair. It doesn't make it right. It's just reality. And maybe people are okay with the team leaving. That's ok. That's their right to feel that way. I just hope by now, no one is under the illusion that there's any way to do this without the stadium using public funds.

 

[VeloClone]

These Stadiums can turn into quite the racket. I just rented a car down in Phoenix and was suprised to find a $6.41 stadium "surcharge" added to the bill. I'm paying for a stadium that I've never been to.

Obviously CPR needs to get the Cyclones to the Fiesta Bowl to rectify this situation.

 

[Clonefan94]

you jest, but that's damn near the reality of the situation. There's a whole lot of talk and fuss being made about how the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a stadium. And while that's a correct argument, it really has no relevance. Because the reality of the situation is that if the taxpayers of Minnesota don't foot the bill, Vikings ownership will likely just take the team somewhere else. That's what it boils down to. Either pay for it or lose the team. It doesn't make the situation fair. It doesn't make it right. It's just reality. And maybe people are okay with the team leaving. That's ok. That's their right to feel that way. I just hope by now, no one is under the illusion that there's any way to do this without the stadium using public funds.

You've pretty much said it. Public funds for stadiums is a reality now. If you are willing to do it, there's another city or state very happy to do it. It's the reality of the situation. What amazes me, is LA's willingness to go the NFL route again. I know the Vikings org. doesn't give a **** about me as a fan, but I am preparing the box to ship all of my Vikings merchandise back to them, with a Thank-you letter for allowing me to focus all of my football watching on the college game. I don't blame the public in Minnesota at all. I wouldn't want to pay that bill either, but I hope they realize they really can't complain when LA takes the Vikings.

 

[VeloClone]

you jest, but that's damn near the reality of the situation. There's a whole lot of talk and fuss being made about how the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a stadium. And while that's a correct argument, it really has no relevance. Because the reality of the situation is that if the taxpayers of Minnesota don't foot the bill, Vikings ownership will likely just take the team somewhere else. That's what it boils down to. Either pay for it or lose the team. It doesn't make the situation fair. It doesn't make it right. It's just reality. And maybe people are okay with the team leaving. That's ok. That's their right to feel that way. I just hope by now, no one is under the illusion that there's any way to do this without the stadium using public funds.

Absolutely right. The debate is constantly going in the wrong direction. It isn't whether or not taxpayers should help foot the bill. The debate is really whether taxpayers in MN or CA will be helping to foot the bill.

Lakers...Northstars...Vikings? See a pattern here? Each couldn't get their new facility. After losing each team they ended up building a new facility to get an expansion. Newsflash, the NFL will not be expanding to it will be tougher this time.

 

[kberyldial]

I'm afraid the do-gooders in Minneapolis will get their way and the Vikings will end up in LA. Too bad. I hope they do not take the Vikings name with them.

Unfortunately this is about billionaires pushing the financial burden to the taxpayers and then getting richer from the end product. The old saying the rich get richer applies to every single new stadium built. Is the metrodome antiquated - yes. I'm convinced the Vikings will be in LA. As shrewd businessmen, the Vikings owners know the real money lies there. Too bad. That ahole Lorie really did a number on the city of Miami. The Wilfs won't even have to play games in LA, they'll get the red carpet. The Los Angeles Vikings, sounds like ****. And I'm a Bears fan!

 

[rebecacy]

you jest, but that's damn near the reality of the situation. There's a whole lot of talk and fuss being made about how the taxpayers shouldn't have to pay for a stadium. And while that's a correct argument, it really has no relevance. Because the reality of the situation is that if the taxpayers of Minnesota don't foot the bill, Vikings ownership will likely just take the team somewhere else. That's what it boils down to. Either pay for it or lose the team. It doesn't make the situation fair. It doesn't make it right. It's just reality. And maybe people are okay with the team leaving. That's ok. That's their right to feel that way. I just hope by now, no one is under the illusion that there's any way to do this without the stadium using public funds.

why can't Vike fans pay thru Personal Seat Licenses?? Wanna be a season ticket holder then pay $10,000 per seat for that right $10,000 x 60,000 seats = one very nice stadium.

 

[CLONECONES]

LA Rams 2.0?

 

[3TrueFans]

why can't Vike fans pay thru Personal Seat Licenses?? Wanna be a season ticket holder then pay $10,000 per seat for that right $10,000 x 60,000 seats = one very nice stadium.

That seems kind of stupid, obviously it should be $50,000 per seat.

 

[jbhtexas]

A question that maybe somebody knows the answer to off the top of their head...

When the new Cowboys stadium was built, Jerry went shopping and picked the city (Arlington), that gave him the best deal, and the city voters approved providing funding. There was no state involvement.

Why is the state legislature involved in Minnesota Viking stadium issue? Is state involvement required by law? Was there no interest by the local cities to provide the funding? Was it because the cities were already funding the Twins new stadium?

 

[VeloClone]

why can't Vike fans pay thru Personal Seat Licenses?? Wanna be a season ticket holder then pay $10,000 per seat for that right $10,000 x 60,000 seats = one very nice stadium.

You aren't going to build a very nice stadium for $20 million or even $200 million.

 

[benjay]

I'm a Vikings fan but I like what the legislature up there is doing. If they move the team then so be it. It should not be taxpayers' burden when the profits go to a private source.

 

[Jordanj6502]

The taxpayers are the ones that would care if the team stays or goes, so why wouldn't the owners push some of the burden onto them. The owners probably couldn't care less if the team is in Minneapolis or LA, as they will make money regardless. The only way they don't make money is staying in the Metrodome.

Who would be the owner of this new stadium? Minnesota, Minneapolis, the Vikings, or some other private owner?

 

[VeloClone]

A question that maybe somebody knows the answer too off the top of their head...

When the new Cowboys stadium was built, Jerry went shopping and picked the city (Arlington), that gave him the best deal, and the city voters approved providing funding. There was no state involvement.

Why is the state legislature involved in Minnesota Viking stadium issue? Is it required by law? Was there no interest by the local cities to provide the funding? Was it because the cities were already funding the Twins new stadium?

All new taxation at any sub state level in MN requires legislative approval. Hennepin County is paying the public portion of Target Field.